Flexible ladder



Feb. 12, 1952 R. F. MORCALDI D FLEXIBLE LADDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 29, 1958 Fig].

Fig.2.

Fig.3.

0 l m m 0 M m m 0 F m w. 0 R

INVENTOR.

Feb. 12, 1952 R. F. MORCALDI D 2,

FLEXIBLE LADDER Filed March 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rosario For/anaMarco/d1 0 Feb. 12, 1952 R. F. MORCALDI D' 2,585,671

FLEXiBLE LADDER Filed March '29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet Z5 Fig .9.

Fig. ll.

Rosana For/ano Marco/d1 D INVENTOR.

Feb. 12, 1952 R. F. MoRcALDi D' 2,585,671

FLEXIBLE LADDER Filed March 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Rosario For/anoMorca/d/D INVENTOR.

BY fi ny v Patented Feb. 12, 1 952 q F LEXIBLE LADDER I "Rosaria lfoilano Morcaldi D,',East BostomMass.

' Application March 29, 1948, Serial No; 17,696

zoisi s (o1; 228-40) This invention relates to novelland useful im+provements in ladder constructions for use in many environments.

An object of this invention. is to support an individual while climbingtokor descending, from an elevation or to an elevated positionin such ,amanner that upon fracture of one of the cords forming a portion'of theloop ladder associated therewith, the rung will not descend, therebycausing an accident. p

Another object of this invention- 1s to safely removeindividuals fromburning buildings and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an'improved laddercomposed of a single rope-,- which rope is so arranged in loops andknots as to support rungs of the'ladd'er whereby upon fracturing of oneor two of the portions of the rope, the rungs will not fall. V

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art, in following the description'of th'epreferred' formsof the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pouch'or basketwhich may be used incarry-ingsmall chil dren in descent from the higher elevations ofabuilding, ship or thelike, to a lower-elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of needle work wherefrom theconcept of the-presentin-= vention springs;

Figure 3 is a detailed viewshowing the methodof forming the needle-workshownin Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view somewhat. similar'toFigure 3, showing; the secondstep oioperationr,

Figure 5 is a perspective View showinga frag; mentary portion of abuilding with the instant. invention applied thereto;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the first embodiment ofthepresent invention;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view showing themethod ofmaking the loops and knots forming the instant invention and per-wtaining to the first embodiment thereof Figure 8 is a fragmentaryelevational'view of. a second form of thewinventionqm.

Figure 9 is a detailed view illustrative of: the? method of making thesecond formof the vention;

Figure 10 is an elevational view" of .a portion:-

of a third embodiment of. the inventiomr Figure 11 is a detailedviewillustrating the method of making the laddershown in. the third-Lform of the invention; v V l Figure 12 is an elevational view oftheifirst form of'the invention showing the selected ropes broken; a

Figure 13 is an elevational view ofthe-second form of the invention,showing'selected ropes broken; and .Figure'14 is an elevational ViBWOf-llh1 third embodiment of the invention, showing'selected ropes brokentherein. I ,This invention and more specifically, the inventive conceptsprings from and is a development ofthat concept taught in my patents,Numbers 2,407,031 and 2,402,568. These patents teach and showneedle-workwhich cannot'u'ri ravel when one of the cords thereof isbroken and the method of making the needle work.

The principle of thepresent invention is to-su p'-' ply a ladder whichwillnot fail to support the individual uponthe fracture of one of thestrands supportingtheladder; As in my patents-the concept of failing tounravel when a cord is broken, the present invention contemplates thefailure to avoid maintaining the rungsand therefore theiindividualontherungs of the ladder in'zthe' advent of fracture of one'of thesupporting portions of thesingle rope which either forms a portion ofthe rungs or actual-1y supports wooden, metallic-or other types ofrungs.

Attention is now directed to Figure '7' wherein the first embodiment ofthe invention is illuse trated.= The portion of the safety ladderillustrated has-rungs and means for supportin'g the rungs-made from asingle strand of rope. This sing-le stran-dofrope has a knot generallyindicated are therein and a loop I 0' extending, therefrom: A'portion12of the said" rope extends from the knot 8- and forms a'seoond knotM'similar to the said krrot Set the apex of the loop 10'. Then, the ropecontinues to forma third knot 16' with asecond loop l8ektending'therefr'o'm. 'A"por- I tion -of the' rope forming theflsecondl00p'18 extends to-the apex of the-first'ementioned loop I10 and-formsa-fourth knot zif'thereini Then, a

continuation 22 ofthe said knot 20"projects through the third knot l6and is"adapted to extend to 'theapex of the second loop l8 an'd'forrn afif th knot; thereby-initiating this procedure again. A run-g [I -havingan aperture I 3 therein rests-partially on the fourth knot 20 and onthe" said knot M with the knot I6 thereover.

The abovedescription illustrates both the method of making the sides ofthe ladder of the firstiembodiment of the invention and the actualstructure resulting from this method: Referring now to Figures 1 through4-, the evolution of the invention may be seen; In Figure 2',

rope or cord I04, the knot 502 is formed. It will be noted that thespiral extends through a loop IIO which has been previously formed inthe needle-work piece I09.

Referring now to Figure 4, this second step in 2 the operation of makingthe needle-work is illus trated. This second step is for the actualformation of the loop H0. The needle II2 having the cord entrainedthrough the eye thereof is utilized in both operations of making theknot I02 and 100p IIO, as is dictated by convenience.

The terminal I I4 of the said knot I02 is formed in a loop IIB, the cordof the'said loop IIB continuing through the existing loop I10 andthrough the said loop 'II5, thence it is pulled tightly. By pulling thecord tightly as described herein, a loop IIO having a twist I20 isformed. By the manipulations of a single'thread, rope, or string or anyother equivalent as described above, a piece of needle-work will resultas is seen at I including a plurality of knots and loops with twiststherein; By shearing or fracturing certain threads within theneedle-work; it will not unravel as is the difficulty with the majorityof conventional fabrics and more specifically the majority of handmadeneedle-work, with the exception of that needle-work disclosed in mypatents identified previously herein.

Referring to Figure 1 now, it will be seen that a cradle generallyindicated at I24 is supplied with loops I26 and I28 forming a portionthereof. These loops are of course, adapted to be held while a smallchild, infant or pet may be placed in the body portion of the cradle andlowered with an individual down a ladder. 'It is within the purview ofthe present invention to form the fabric of the cradle of theneedle-work material or of the weave illustrated therein.

Going now to Figure '7 and in conjunction with this embodiment of theinvention previously set forth, it may now be seen that a single rope ofthe ladder is looped and knotted in such a manner for supporting therungs II whereby upon fracturing of one or two of the cords (see Figure12) the rungs II will yet be maintained in spaced position for safeascent and descent;

Referring now to Figure 9, a slightly modified form of the invention isdisclosed. This slightly modified form includes a rung I I having anaperture I adJacent each side thereof, which aper purposes.

Attention is directed primarily to Figure 13,

wherein it is disclosed that upon failure of any:

safety purposes. Furthermore, in the event of.

4 fracture of the portions of the rope which connect the knots I6 to thesaid knots I4 and 20, the latter will still maintain intact as theremaining portions of the rope will support the rungs.

Referring now primarily to Figure 11, the third illustrated form of theinvention is made solely from a single piece of rope. Starting at thelower portion of the illustrated ladder for convenience, a knot 40 isillustrated having a loop 42 extending therefrom. The loops and knots inthis embodiment as in the second embodiment, are formed as described inconjunction with the first form of the invention.

A portion 44 of the said rope extends from the knot 40 and forms a rung.Formed at the opposite end of the rung is a second knot 45 which issimilar to the said knot 40. A second loop 48 projects from the saidsecond knot 46 and a portion 50 of the rope forming the second knot 46has a third knot 52 formed therein which receives the apex of the loop48 therein. This portion of the rope also extends from the third knot toform a side loop 54, which side loop 54 has a knot 56 made medially ofthe length thereof. This' medial knot is utilized for the purpose ofpreventing separation of the strands of the side loop 54.

At the terminal portion of the said side loop 54 is supplied a fourthknot 58 which is received adjacent the apex of the loop' 48 and then,con tinues to form another'rung 60. generally indicated at 62 is formedat the opposite end of the said rung 60 and receives the said first loop42 therein adjacent the apex thereof. Then, the second side loop 64extends from the said fifth knot 62. A lateral knot 66 for prevention ofseparation of the strands of the second side loop is formed mediallythereof and the end portion of the said second side loop 64 has a sixthknot 68 formed therein which also takes in the said first loop 42adjacent the apex thereof. The said single piece of rope then extendsthrough the said lateral or side knot 66 for continuation to form aportion of another loop partially shown at I0. Of course, this procedurecontinues until the desired length of ladder is formed. By the abovedescribed structure in connection with the third embodiment of theinvention, it will be readily appreciated by inspection of Figure 14that various strands or portions of the single piece rope may befractured or broken Without unraveling.

' Attention is now directed primarily to Figure 5 wherein one form ofthe invention is illustrated in use. There is shown a building structurehaving the usual window therein and the window encasement appurtenantthereto. Eyebolts 82 may be supplied in the window casing in order toaccommodate the chains 84 and 86 detachably therein, through the mediumof a clamp 88. These chains 84 and 86 along with Apertures are formed inthe said platform 90 in order to accommodate knots 98 which "are formedat the two ends of the said rope forming the ladder. Itis readilyappreciated that the ladder may be suspended in this manner for ascentand descent to and from a building.

From the foregoing, an understanding of the article of the invention,method of making the same and utility thereof is deemed apparent.

invention what rope being tied to an intermediate portion of said ropeto form a closed elongated loop, said loop being knotted intermediateits ends, the

sgond end of said rope extending upwardly, through said knot and beinggripped'by the knot," said ropehaving a pair of spaced knots engagedwith saidloop with the portion of the rope be-j tween the two knotsforming an additional loop. 2. In a rope ladder including a pair of rungsupporting portions, each of said portions being formed from a singlelength of rope having firstj 1 and second ends, said first end beingtied to an intermediate portion of said rope to form a closed elongatedloop, said loop being formed into a knot intermediate its ends, thesecond end of said rope extendingupwardly through the knot formed insaid loop and being gripped by the knot, said rope having a pair ofspaced knots engaged with one end of the loop above the knot formed inthe loop, the portion of said rope between said spaced knotsforminganother elongated loop, said last mentioned loop also being formed intoa knot intermediate its ends, the second end of said rope being extendedupwardly through the knot formed inthelast named loop, said ropeincluding a second pair of spaced knots engaged with the last namedloop, and a ruri'g extending between said vertical portions and havingapertured ends seated on the first named knots of each vertical portionand located between the first named knots of the vertical portions andthe knots in the last named loops of the vertical portions.

ROSARIA FdaLANo MORCALDI p.

REFEREno s CITED The following referenbesare of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 303,055 Ryer Aug. 5, 18841,328,037 Early Jan. 13, 1920

